Chapter 349: Refusal
Hayley’s POV:
Benjamin smiled softly and said, “You’ve been working for hours. Your shoulders must be stiff. Let me massage them.”
“No need. I’m fine,” I replied quickly. Despite my protest, he began gently kneading my shoulders, and I didn’t stop him. His hands worked magic. Soon, the tension in my muscles eased, and my thoughts felt clearer. Ideas started flowing effortlessly again.
I turned to him with a small smile. “Looks like you’ll have to wait a bit longer. I need to finish this sketch.”
Feeling a surge of excitement, I eagerly grabbed the pen and began to draw.
Benjamin, calm and unhurried, sat patiently beside me, silently observing. In the compact room, neither of us said a word—only the soft scratch of my pen broke the stillness. Outside the door, Tanner caught sight of this peaceful moment and couldn’t help but smile. He leaned toward his assistant and whispered, “Leave them undisturbed for the night.”
“Yes, Mr. Southwell.”
Satisfied, Tanner turned and left the studio.
Hayley’s POV:
In the quiet, brightly lit studio late at night, I stretched and let out a yawn as I finished the final stroke. “Finally done!”
Glancing over, I noticed Benjamin still sitting nearby, legs crossed. Though he held a magazine, he hadn’t turned a page in a long time. Curious, I took a closer look and realized he had dozed off.
Smiling softly, I grabbed a blanket and draped it over him. I was about to leave the room when his strong arms suddenly wrapped around my waist.
“Finished already?” His voice was deep and husky, heavy with sleep.
I blinked, slightly startled. “Yes, it’s done. Let’s head back now.”
But Benjamin tightened his embrace. “Just let me hold you for a bit longer,” he murmured. I stood still, unmoving, as he held me close.
The warmth of his embrace, combined with his intoxicating scent, stirred Hera’s primal urge to be with him, but I suppressed it. I had to be patient—only after I revealed everything to him and earned his acceptance could I truly be with him. It was the only way to secure the Moon Goddess’ blessing, ensuring our bond would last forever.
Lost in thought, I was startled when the lights in the studio abruptly went out, plunging us into total darkness.
“What happened? Why did the lights go out?” I asked, my voice tinged with worry.
Benjamin remained calm. “It’s probably just a timer shutting the power off. I’ll grab my phone to light the way. Let’s head home.”
He pulled out his phone. But after a few attempts, it became clear that the battery was dead.
“My phone’s out of charge,” he said, frowning.
I quickly retrieved mine, switching on the flashlight to bathe the room in a dim glow. “Let’s go.”
Leading the way, I headed toward the door with Benjamin following behind. But when we tried to leave, the door wouldn’t budge. I pushed against it with all my strength, but it refused to move. “What’s going on? Why won’t it open?”
Benjamin examined the door with the flashlight, confusion written on his face. He soon noticed it had been locked from the outside. Adding to the mystery, faint, hurried footsteps echoed beyond the door. He frowned deeply and called out, “Who’s there?”
The noise abruptly stopped, followed by the sound of something being dropped in a rush. The object hit the ground with a loud clatter. A feeling of unease crept over me as I realized they might be up to no good.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and pour it!” a voice whispered urgently from outside.
“Who’s out there? Open this door right now!” I shouted, anger rising in my chest.
But then, a sharp, unpleasant smell filled the air, cutting through my frustration. Benjamin sniffed the air, his face darkening. “It’s gasoline.”
Panic surged through me. “We need to get out of here now!”
Before we could react further, flames suddenly erupted outside the window, painting the night sky in a fiery glow.
“Someone set the place on fire!” I exclaimed.